The first evening of a trip sets the tone for everything after it. Get it right and the rest of the visit has momentum. Get it wrong, which usually means an overpriced tourist bar directly on the Main Market Square, and you spend the following days trying to correct course.
White Chocolate is a good opening move. It is close enough to the Square to reach on your first night without navigation, but far enough off it to feel like something you found rather than something that found you: a vaulted cellar, six private salons, white leather and gold light.
Close, But Not On the Square
We are at ul. Św. Tomasza 16, a few streets from the Rynek. That is a two-minute walk from the centre of the Old Town and a considerable distance in terms of atmosphere.
For a first night, when nobody wants to be navigating an unfamiliar city, that combination of easy to reach and genuinely different is the useful part.
A Sense of the City
Krakow's Old Town is built over a network of medieval cellars, and a good number of the best rooms in the city are below street level. Spending your first evening in one is a reasonable introduction to how the place works.
It also means that when someone later tells you the good bars are underground, you will already know.
Practicalities on Arrival
Doors open at 20:00 every night. English is spoken throughout. The dress code is smart, so it is worth knowing before you unpack that trainers and sportswear will not get you in.
Call ahead if you can, particularly at weekends. Arriving in a new city and finding your first choice full is an avoidable disappointment.
Frequently asked questions
How far is it from the Main Market Square?
A few streets, roughly a two-minute walk. We are at ul. Św. Tomasza 16 in the Old Town, which makes it very manageable on a first night in an unfamiliar city.
Should we book on our first night?
If it is a weekend, yes. We are small and we fill up. Midweek you can often walk in, but a phone call removes the risk entirely.
Is English spoken?
Yes, throughout. A large proportion of our guests are visitors and our staff are used to it.
What is the dress code?
Smart. No trainers, sportswear or beachwear. It catches out visitors occasionally, so it is worth checking what you have packed.
What time should we arrive?
We open at 20:00. Most guests arrive from 21:00 onward, and the room is at its best from around 22:00. Closing is between 03:00 and 05:00 depending on the day.